Author Archive: Mel Marx

The importance of seeds…

Author: May 18, 2015 0 Comments

Seeds and their protection has become an important issue on the sustainability world stage.  Questions that are being grappled with are:
  • GMO seeds: how important are they in feeding an ever growing population? Once purchased, who has ownership of those GMO seeds?
  •  Seed loss that leads to diminishing plant diversity; The importance of seed banks for our future food survival;
  • The creation of monoculture farms instead of crop diversification through organic and permaculture methods;
  • The effects of monoculture farming on bees and other important insects;
  • The effects of monoculture farming practices on our soil.

Our grandmothers all understood the importance of saving seeds. We in our generation have lost touch with the land and where our food comes from, leaving these important issues up to farmers, big business and politicians. Preserving seeds to ensure diverse plant life is something all of us can do. We all have the ability to save seeds from our gardens. It is important for each one of us to understand and be educated on the issues around seeds and the loss of this important resource.  Below some articles on this important issue…

Seeds of Doubt – The New Yorkerhttp://news.google.com Fri, 15 Aug 2014 21:31:56 GMT The New YorkerSeeds of DoubtThe New YorkerEarly this spring, the Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva led an unusual pilgrimage across southern Europe. Beginning in Greece, with the international Pan-Hellenic Exchange of Local Seed Varieties Festiva … Read more … Food diversity meets the marketplace: David Buchanan at TEDxDirigoDavid Buchanan’s book “Taste, Memory: Forgotten Foods, Lost Flavors, and Why They Matter” was released nationally by Chelsea Green Publishing in November, 2012, with a foreword by Gary Paul…Read more … Total control: is Monsanto unstoppable? – New Internationalisthttp://news.google.com Fri, 03 Apr 2015 12:33:45 GMT Total control: is Monsanto unstoppable?New InternationalistIt looks like a recipe for total control., A US Department of Justice investigation into Monsanto’s possibly illegal domination of the seed market, started in 2010, was quietly dropped in 201 …Read more …
Seed Saving Law: What Farmers Need to Know – AgriLife.orghttp://agrilife.org/texasaglaw/ Tue, 03 Feb 2015 23:56:08 -0800This case illustrates the serious consequences farmers may face for violation of laws related to seed saving. There are three main sources of protection for seed companies under the law. It is possible, and indeed, likely, that …Read more … Global seed vault offers world agriculture protection, hope …http://deltafarmpress.com/users/thermo002?intlink=ViewProfile_MyAcctButton Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:12:00 -0800“James Bond” seed vault continues to acquire seed from around the world. Cary Fowler brings readers latest on what the vault is holding, what it means.Read more … Planting the Seeds for ChangeVandana Shiva is one of the world’s most powerful voices for global environmental justice and cultural and ecological diversity. She is the founding director of the Research Foundation for…Read more …

Seeds

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Soil – a key resource in our survival

Author: April 29, 2015 0 Comments

Soil, who thinks of it?  Very few people! But without soil we will have no food or building material or a medium in which to anchor our homes and buildings.  The UN has designated 2015 as the international year of soils and through the many interventions hopes to highlight the importance of soil to our survival. Below is a selection of articles on the topic and some tips on what the average person can do to protect our soil diversity.
Spotlighting humanity’s ‘silent ally,’ UN launches 2015 International Year of … – UN News Centrehttp://news.google.com  Fri, 05 Dec 2014 15:59:35 GMTUN News CentreSpotlighting humanity’s ‘silent ally,’ UN launches 2015 International Year of …UN News Centre5 December 2014 – Healthy soils are the foundation for food, fuel, fibre and even medicine said the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organ …Read more … Are City Folks the New Caretakers of the Land? – Huffington Posthttp://news.google.com  Mon, 27 Apr 2015 21:44:40 GMTHuffington PostAre City Folks the New Caretakers of the Land?Huffington Post… with community gardeners to conduct experiments with cover crops that would enhance soil quality without chemical inputs. Gregory and the community gardeners walk the sma …Read more … Improve soil fertility in your food garden with a green manure cropLearn how to grow your own fertiliser for your organic vegetable garden and orchard with a regular green manure crop. It is a totally natural way to greatly improve soil fertility, creating…Read more …
Loss of fertile soils a food security risk – Deutsche Wellehttp://news.google.com  Tue, 21 Apr 2015 14:16:45 GMTDeutsche WelleLoss of fertile soils a food security riskDeutsche WelleWorldwide deterioration of soil quality is a disaster in the making, warn experts like Jes Weigelt of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany. “The si … Support World Soil Day and the International Year of Soils 2015Animated video produced by the Global Soil Partnership promoting the creation of a UN World Soil Day and the adoption of 2015 as the International Year of Soils. The animation outlines the…Read more … Steve Kibet: Mobilising Youth to Tackle Soil Degradation …http://www.farmingfirst.org/ Wed, 22 Apr 2015 03:10:55 -0700It is a story every family in my region can relate to; the soil quality has been degraded over time and with population increasing, we find ourselves producing less. It is from this background that I became interested in studying …Read more …
Five Simple Ways to Improve Soil Quality For Successful …http://www.resilientcommunities.com/ Tue, 29 Apr 2014 12:47:41 -0700Anyway, I thought it would be a good time to review some gardening best practices for amending soil. Some of these may not seem ground-breaking, but there is one thing that is certain: high-quality soil is the single most important aspect of …Read more .. How to Compost at Home – Huffington Posthttp://news.google.com Thu, 23 Apr 2015 20:53:21 GMTHuffington PostHow to Compost at HomeHuffington PostThe idea of composting may seem a bit intimidating, especially for those living in smaller spaces in urban environments. But the good news is that anyone can learn how to compost at home, regardless …Read more … Read more …Soil Improvement for Vegetable GrowersQuality garden soil is very important for maintaining healthy vegetables as well as a key factor in their growth. At Quickcrop we stock a variety of soil thats perfect for vegetable growth….
A Culture of Conservation: Don’t Call it Dirt – A Passion for SoilSoil is made up of air, water, mineral particles, organic matter and organisms. It takes thousands of years for rock to develop into soil and hundreds of years for rich organic layers to build…Read more … Mulch & your garden; the why’s & how’s…Mulching your garden beds is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to spruce up your garden. It’s also a great sustainable step as it helps conserve water, reduces weed growth, prevents erosion…Read more …  Soils in urgent need of protection – Gulf Timeshttp://news.google.com Mon, 27 Apr 2015 18:20:58 GMT   Gulf Times Soils in urgent need of protectionGulf TimesOn the contrary, sustainable soil-protection practices can actually boost agricultural yields – especially those of smallholders. Crop diversification, recycling, and soil cover can all contribute …Read more …

 

Soil

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